discreet
Often confused with discrete
- 1Careful to respect privacy or secrecy, and quiet and tactful so as not to cause embarrassment.
With a discreet cough, the waiter let them know the restaurant was about to close.
The senator's assistant was always discreet about her boss's private life.
Similartactful, circumspect, diplomatic, prudent, careful
Oppositeindiscreet, tactless
Note
The spelling is the whole trap. Discreet and discrete are one Latin word, discrētus, the past participle of discernere, that reached English twice and settled into two spellings. The -eet one is about tact (keeping confidences, choosing when to speak, a gesture or a cough that says enough) while discrete, with -ete, means separate. It compares both ways: more discreet or discreeter.
- 2Unobtrusive enough not to attract attention, anger, or challenge.
The bodyguards followed the singer through the crowd at a discreet distance.
Discreet signs in the lobby point guests toward the side entrance.
Similarunobtrusive, inconspicuous, subtle, low-key
Oppositeconspicuous, obtrusive, blatant, obvious
Practice
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Origin
From Middle English discrete, from Old French discret, from Latin discrētus, the past participle of discernere. It is a doublet of discrete.